Album



March 7, 1939. A. A. AINSWORTH ALBUM Filed April 6 1 956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A4557??- A. A/A/JWd/QT/l ATTORNEY March 9- A. A. AINSWORTH 2,

ATTORNEYS.

March Y, 1939.- .41 A. AINSWTJRTH ALBUM Filed April 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet wwfm ATTOR N EY ing of fabric samples such as Woolens.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE ALBUM Albert A. Ainsworth, Ossining, N. Y. 7

Application April 6, 1936, Serial No. 72,876

6 Claims.

This invention relates to albums, folders, display cards, easels, and the like.

The invention is disclosed herein as embodied in photograph ,7 albums-but it is applicable to other record or display devices, and particularly albums or cases for carrying photographs of machinery, furniture and the like by salesmen instead of displaying samples of the goods to be sold, and for the carry- For the purpose of disclosure the invention will be described primarily with reference to its use in a photograph album. It is to be understood, however, that as to those features applicable to single supporting sheets or easels, such structures are regarded as within the scope of the invention, and as to those features applicable to cards, slips or fabric samples, such structures are regarded as within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for hingedly mounting a multiplicity of photographs in stepped relation, together with means for retaining the photographs, fabric samples, etc., against the mounting sheet when the sheet is turned or held in any attitude likely to cause the photographs, fabric samples, etc., to fall away from the sheet.

One important advantage of thus holding the photographs, fabric samples, etc.,

down except when they are to be individually examined lies in the fact that there is no danger of the photographs, fabric samples, etc., hanging downward and striking the opposite sheet when a sheet is turned over.

Mutilation of the photographs, fabric samples, etc., and abuse of the hinges is thus avoided.

upon the sheets.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of the specification:

Fig. l is a plan view of an open album embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 2a is a view in elevation of a stud which is employed for anchoring and down device;

tensioning a hold Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of folder or book;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the folder or book of Fig. 3, the attaching of the intermediate sheets being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View illustrating a further modified form;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a folder or album generally similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2, but having the receptacle disposed outside the cover hinges;

Fig. '7 is a sectional View showing a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows still another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of an open album similar to the album of Fig. 1 but including a modified construction of the means for providing spool or roll compartments;

Fig. 10 is a plan View of a further form of album or carrying case, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line I ll l of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the album I includes a cover which comprises a front section 2, a back section 3, and an intermediate section 4 to which the front and back sections are hingedly connected. The hinging is effected in a well-known manner through flexible fabric. The intermediate section 4 forms a base for a receptacle 5, the receptacle as shown comprising side Walls 5 and I, end walls 8 and 9, and a hinged cover H1. The receptacle is provided, as seen in Fig. 1, with upright partitions H which extend nearly to the top of the receptacle and may contain a series of small tubes l2, desirably, of light metal or cardboard, for holding miniature film in spool form or in tubular containers. The tubes are removable and are open at both ends so that the contained film can be pushed out of a tube conveniently and without any likelihood of its getting out of control and unwinding.

- The front and back of the album and any intermediate sheets that may be provided are provided with photograph hinges. These hinges may be of any suitable-construction, but they are desirably formed from a sheet l3 of flexible fabric which is pasted to the cover or supporting sheet except in vertical hinge zones. In these zones the sheet is gummed but it is not pasted 'down. Each hinge zone is divided into a multiplicity of hinges M by angular cuts I5. The hinges of the several zones are disposed in horizontally alignedsets so that a photograph may be hingedly mounted in the album by attaching it to the aligned hinges of such a set. As shown in Fig. 1 each of the front and back sections of the album carries two columns or tiers of pictures.

When a sheet is filled it presents the appearance seen in Fig. 1. In this figure several of the photographs at the upper end of the second tier are shown turned up so as to expose the hinge structure to View, but when the folder or album is to be closed these photographs would, of course, be turned downward like the photographs of the other tiers.

In order to protect the photographs and the hinges when the front or back section or any intermediate photograph supporting sheet is turned, provision is made of an elastic band or tape I6 connected to anchor studs I1 at its ends. The elastic band is formed with loops or metal rings at its ends or it may be an endless elastic band which can be stretched around the anchor studs and which contracts beneath the heads of the studs. The elastic can, therefore, be readily removed for replacement when it wears out. When the elastic is not in use it extends taut between the anchor studs as shown alongside the second and, fourth tiers of photographs in Fig. 1. When the elastic is to be put into use an intermediate portion is drawn around a stud [8 at the opposite side of the associated tier of photographs from the anchor studs I! to which the elastic is connected. The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 with the stud I8 disposed adjacent the lower edge of the uppermost photograph is one which is very desirable in practice since this holds the uppermost photograph or fabric sample against curling, and holds the lower margins of all of the underlying photographs, fabric samples, etc., down against the sheet.

The anchor studs I1 and the studs l8 are of similar construction. In the illustrative form each comprises a shank I9 which is passed through or partially through the cover or supporting sheet and properly fastened thereto. The stud may be passed through a washer 20 and upset against the outer face of the washer to rivet the stud in place. Each stud desirably comprises a collar 2| which engages the supporting sheet and a head 22 spaced from the collar. The collar 21 and the head 22 define a circumferential groove 23 between them which receives and retains the elastic I6.

The embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 is generally similar to'that of Figs. 1 and 2, but it includes a stepped hinge support alongside the central receptacle to which intermediate sheets are hinged. This construction is a desirable one for use with photographs, but it is especially valuable for use with thicker bodies arranged instepped relation, such as woolen samples. By hinging the intermediate sheets in stepped relation it is possible to avoid having the accumulated bulk throw an excessive strain on the sheets adjacent the hinges or compel a divergence of the covers when the book or carrying case is closed, and it is also possible to assure that the sheets will be able to open to a horizontal position.

In this form of the invention the book or carrying case la comprises a front cover section 2a and a back cover section 3a hingedlyconnected to an intermediate cover section 4a. The intermediate section may carry a receptacle 5a as before but the intermediate section is considerably wider than the receptacle and; it also has fixed upon it at each side of the receptacle 5a a stepped support 25 to which intermediate sheets 26 are hingedly connected, as shown in diagrammatic form in Fig. 4, the hinge line in each instance being at or adjacent to the vertex of a reentrant step angle. The front and back of the cover and each intermediate sheet is desirably constructed similarly to the front and back of the cover of Fig. 1, that is, hinges, hold down elastics, and studs for the anchoring and tensioning of the elastics, are provided on each sheet. A margin is left free on each sheet adjacent the hinge for a distance at least great enough to assure that nothing carried by the sheet will engage the associated step. It will be seen that the horizontal step webs or treads, (by analogy to an ordinary flight of stairs) space the sheets when they are folded upward as seen in Fig. 4 so that the bulk of the carried material does not compel the sheets to gap apart when the book is closed. The vertical step webs, or risers, (by analogy to an ordinary flight of stairs) similarly space the sheets at their inner margins when the book is open so that the sheets can all fold down to a horizontal position without throwing any great strain on the areas adjacent the hinges.

Since there is no assurance, however, that the bulk of the material will build up a thickness equal to a step riser or tread, it is desirable not to limit the turning of the sheets in Fig. 4 to horizontal and vertical positions but rather to permit them to cross both the horizontal and vertical positions. In order to permit this freedom of movement the step treads are inclined downward slightly to the vertical, and the step risers are also inclined slightly to the vertical to make the reentrant step angles slightly obtuse. Such steps and risers, however, may be perfectly horizontal and vertical, if desired. Another arrangement which would produce a similar result would be to run the sheet supporting members straight down at about the inclination at which the steps of Fig. 4 run. The angle may, of course, be Varied as desired.

In Fig. 5 disclosure is made of a book or carrying case lb having a front cover section 21), a back cover section 3b, and an intermediate cover section 41) to which the front and back sections are hingedly connected. This form includes no receptacle upon the intermediate section 41), but it does include a stepped formation 25b at either side of the section 4b, the stepped structures being brought together in juxtaposed relation instead of separated to provide receptacle walls. The steps of Fig. 5'are shown as rectangular in form but they may also be inclined in the manner of the steps of Fig. 4 if desired.

In Fig. '6 disclosure is made of a book or carrying case like the book of Figs. 1 and 2 except that the receptacle is located outside the cover hinges instead of between the foldable front and back cover sections. tion a receptacle 2'! constitutes an intermediate cover section and has a front cover section 20 and a back cover section 30 hinged to it ,along its inner longitudinal edges. A cover 100 is hingedly connected to the receptacle, and the interior construction of the receptacle may be the same as that of Fig. 1. The front and back cover sections 20 and 30 may be in all other respectsexactly the same as the front and back cover sections. 2 and 3 of Fig. 1. V

I This form of the invention has the advantage that intermediate sheets (which may be hingedly connected to the receptacle cover or to a flexible flap extending over the receptacle cover) can be v In this form of the inventurned through 180 degrees so as to lie fiat against either the front or back cover section.

In the embodiment of Fig. '7 disclosure is made of a book or carrying case I 01 comprising a front cover section 2d and a back cover section 3d. The back cover section 3d includes a stiff wall 28 which extends at right angles to the remainder of the back cover section and forms a side wall of a receptacle d. The back cover section, itself, also constitutes the bottom of the receptacle as seen'in Fig. 7. Thereceptacle is additionally provided with a side wall 29 and with end walls 3|! of which only one is seen in the figure. A closure 3! is hinged to the wall 5d and extends across the top of the receptacle to the upper edge of the wall 28. The front cover section 211 is hinged to the upper edge of the Wall 28, and when it is swung to close the book it extends over the top of the receptacle closure 3| and guards the receptacle closure against accidental opening.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 8 the album is generally similar to that of Fig. 1 with the exception that the receptacle is mounted along a margin of a cover section remote from the cover hinges and that the intermediate cover section is utilized throughout its width for hingedly mounting additional sheets between the covers.

In this form the album comprises a front cover section 26, a back cover section 36, and an intermediate cover section 4e to which the front and back cover sections 2e and 3e are hingedly connected. A receptacle 5c is mounted to extend along the margin of the front cover section 2e remote from the hinge. of said cover section. The receptacle 5c is provided with a hinged closure We at its inner side, that is at the side which faces toward the album hinges.

Additional sheets 33 are hinged to the intermediate cover section 46, the sheets being narrow enough to terminate short of the receptacle 5e. The back cover section 36 may be provided with a hinged latch or catch 34 which cooperates with a stud 35 on the receptacle 5e for securing the album in closed condition.

This embodiment has the advantages that the receptacle does not limit nor interfere with the provision of additional sheets between the cover. The album may be opened to lie fiat on a table, and the intermediate sheets can be turned through 180 degrees without obstruction so that they may lie fiat against either the front or back section of the cover.

The form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 9 is generally the same as that of Figs. 1 and 2. The same reference numerals have therefore been applied to corresponding parts with the subscript added so that a detailed description is deemed unnecessary. The embodiment-of Fig. 9 differs from that of Figs. 1 and 2, however, in that the hollow cylinders l2 of Fig. 1 are omitted and the compartment 5 is subdivided into minor compartments for containing rolls or spools of photographic film by means of partition strips 36 and cross spacers 31. Each of the strips 36 may be formed of thin sheet metal or other suitable material. The strips are alike in construction. Each strip is provided at uniform intervals with angular indentations or projections which extend toward the middle of the compartment 5. The angular projections of the two strips are paired so that they are disposed in opposing relation and hence serve to subdivide the compartment 5 into a series of smaller compartments, each adapted to hold a roll or spool of photographic film. Spacing partitions 31 which may also be of sheet metal or other suitable material are inserted at intervals, each spacing partition being provided with a pair of slots to embrace opposing vertices of the partition strips.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs.

and 11 the cover comprises an intermediate section 49 and front and back sections 29 and 39 hingedly connected to the intermediate section. The back section has mounted upon it wide spacers 38 and narrow spacers 39 which together form 10 a solid block. The spacers may be formed of cardboard or other suitable material. Leaf hinges for leaves 45 are provided by securing sheets of fabric M between adjacent spacers 38 and 39.

The two fabric sheets at opposite sides of the spacer 39 are brought together outside the block and adhesively united for a short distance, their free ends being then adhesively united to opposite sides of the sheet 40. With this arrangement adequate provision is made for spacing the covers and the. intermediate sheets apart and the sheet hinges are provided with a very secure anchorage through adhesive union with the adjacent spacers 38 and 39.

Reinforcement may be had by securinga fabric sheet 42 to the uppermost spacer 38 and to the front cover section 2g, and by securing a fabric sheet 43 to the lowermost spacer 38 and to the back cover section 39'.

While I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructions illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized as described and set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an album, in combination, a front c0versection, a back cover section, an intermediate cover section to which the front and back sections are hingedly connected, sheets hingedly mounted within the cover, and hinge supporting means carried by the intermediate section and providing a succession of hinge joints so arranged that the sheets progressing from the covers toward the middle of the album are hinged at progressively greater distances from the plane of the intermediate cover section, said hinge supporting means providing a series of steps, and the sheets being hingedly connected to it adjacent the vertices of the reentrant angles of the steps, the risers and treads of the steps being so inclined that the reentrant an- 5 gles of the steps are obtuse.

2. In an album, in combination, a supporting sheet adapted to have a tier of photographs hingedly attached to it in stepped relation, a

pair of anchor studs secured to the sheet along- 0 side the photograph area, an elastic hold down band connected to the anchor studs, and an additional stud at the opposite side of the photograph area from the anchor studs, about which the elastic band may be passed to cause it to extend over the photograph area.

3. In an album, in combination, a supporting sheet adapted to have a tier of photographs hingedly attached to it in stepped relation, a

pair of anchor studs secured to the sheet along- 7 the elastic band may be passed to cause it to extend over the photograph area, said additional studhaving an enlargement or head at its upper end for retaining the elastic band against accidental separation from the stud.

4. In analbum, in combination, a supporting sheet adapted to have a tier of photographs hingedly attached to it in stepped relation, a pair of anchor studs secured to the sheet alongside the photograph area, an elastic hold down band connected to the anchor studs, and an additional stud. at the opposite side of the photograph area from the anchor studs, about which the elastic band may be passed to cause it to extend over the photograph area, said additional stud having an enlargement or head at its upper end for retaining the elastic band against accidental separation from the stud, and said anchor studs having enlargements or heads at their upper ends for retaining the elastic band against accidental separation from the anchor studs.

5. In an album, in combination, a supporting sheet adapted to have a tier of photographs hingedly attached to it in stepped relation, a pair of anchor studs secured to the sheet alongside the photograph area, an elastic hold down band connected to the anchor studs, and an additional stud at the opposite side of the photograph area from the anchor studs about which studs, and the elastic band having loops in its ends. adapted to be stretched over the heads of the anchor studs-to permit ready attachment and removal of the band.

6. In an album, in combination, a supporting sheet, hinges mounted on the supporting sheet for supporting a tier of photographs in stepped relation, hold down means carried by the sheet comprising two stop members having an elastic connection extending therebetween, and a third stop member mounted out of alignment with the first two stop members and adapted to be detachably engaged by the elastic connection, said elastic connection, when engaging the third stop member, overlying the tier of photographs and holding the tier of photographs in substantially fiat relationship against the supporting sheet, said elastic connection standing clear of the tier of photographs when not engaging the said third stop member.

ALBERT A. AINSWORTH. 

